Wednesday, July 12, 2006

j3's TOP 20 HIP HOP ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

#12BLACK MOONENTA DA STAGE1993

While some might suggest Da Shinin' as the best album to come from Boot Camp, I've always been a Black Moon head and Enta Da Stage, to me, stands head and shoulders above any of the spinoffs. In fact (now you're just talking crazy), Enta Da Stage also outshines other quinessential 1993-1996 NYC records. That's right, that includes Illmatic and The Infamous. There's one from this era it doesn't top, but that's later. Please leave your pro-Nas sentiments in the comments section below.

Under the lead of raucous and rambunctious emcees Buckshot and Excellerator, Enta is a beautiful yet grimy, flashy yet gritty depiction of the NYC that would later become the backdrop for the Hova, Fiddy and Biggie. It would also essentially serve as a vital bridge between NYC's early years of EPMD, Kane, LL, Brand Nubian and others and the elitist Jansport uprising of the late 1990s.

Whatever it represents, it's a monster. And it marks the pinnacle of Evil Dee's career displaying his exact and never-faulty ear for the perfect level, pitch and tempo. And that bass! One thing I'm sure of, if nothing else, is this: Enta Da Stage is solely responsible for the total destruction of my Buick Century's factory sound system.

I will make this claim before departing for the evening: Enta Da Stage is better than more than three quarters of the albums you own. There is no disputing this. Just accept it and go buy this record and stop frontin.